Press Release

On Anniversary of Benghazi Attacks, Issa Honors Heroes and Announces Hearing for Next Week

Oversight committee to hear from Accountability Review Board co-chairs, Security Panel reviewers, family members of victims

WASHINGTON – House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., today released the following statement commemorating the one year anniversary of the September 11, 2012 terror attacks in Benghazi and announcing a hearing with the Accountability Review Board co-chairs next Thursday, September 19th at 9:30 a.m.

“One year ago, four Americans were killed in a vicious and planned attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi. Today, we remember Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty, and Tyrone S. Woods, who served their country honorably and died protecting it. We also remember their families and colleagues, who will always keenly feel their loss,” Chairman Issa stated.

“The attack in Benghazi was a painful reminder that even a decade after September 11th there are still those who wish us harm, who would destroy our way of life and who are actively planning the next assault. The only way we can truly protect the lives of Americans at home and abroad is to be honest about the ongoing threats we face and tireless in our response to them. Yet in the year since Benghazi, we have seen a total lack of accountability from this Administration and many important questions have still not been answered. We still do not know who was in charge and making decisions the night of the attack nor do we know who was responsible for policy decisions that set a course seeking a smaller U.S. security presence in a dangerous environment.

“From denying the Committee access to survivors of the attack to refusing to turn over key documents, the Administration’s continual reluctance to cooperate with our investigation is flatly unacceptable. Next week I will convene a hearing to receive testimony from the State Department’s Accountability Review Board co-chairs, members of the Department’s security panel that conducted a review,and family members who lost loved-ones in the attacks. Considering that the State Department’s ‘accountability’ review board has yielded no disciplinary action, none of the terrorists have been brought to justice, and we still don’t have key answers about what happened before, during and after the attack, Benghazi remains an important and unresolved matter.”